Self-winding clock.



M. OASIEL.

SELF WINDING CLOCK. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1914.

1,104,345. Patented Ju1y21,1914,

2 SHEETS-$111321 1.

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Wilma one o ms NORRIS PETERS co., WASNINUYGN, n. c.

M: GASTEL.

SELF WINDING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 30, 1914. 1 104 345. Patented July 21, 1914.

2 SHEET SBHEBT 2.

1m: NORRIS ps-rsozs co., wasnmarou, n c

MAURICE CAS'IEL, OF IRON MOUNTAIN, MICHIGAN.

SELF-WINDING CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Application filed January 30, 1914. Serial No. 815,495.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, .MAURICE CAsrEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iron Mountain, in the county of Dickinson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Vinding Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple and eflicient mechanism for automatically winding clocks which receive their driving power from a falling weight or weights;

For the purpose of more fully describing my said invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one specific embodiment thereof and wherein,

Figure 1, represents said mechanism in front elevation; Fig. 2, a top plan view thereof with parts removed for clearness; Fig. 3, a vertical section on line 3 3 Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow, and Fig. 4, a diagram showing the electric circuits and operation of the switch which controls them.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents any suitable upright support upon one face of which is mounted brackets 2 and 3 which carry the clock frame 4 in which is supported various arbors and gears of the clock mechanism. I have not attempted to show in the accompanying drawings all of the mechanism of a clock, but only so much thereof as ismore or less directly related to my invention.

The clock mechanism, as here shown, comprises among other parts a power shaft 5 which acts to drive the escapement shaft 6 through a train of gearing comprising gear 7 loose on shaft 5, but connected thereto through a ratchet and pawl hereinafter described, a pinion 8 meshing with said gear and fast 011 a shaft 9, and a gear 10 fast on shaft 9 and meshing with a plnion 11 on the escape wheel shaft 6. The escape wheel and other well known parts of the clock mechanism are omitted for the sake of clearness 1n the drawings.

ing being effected by driving shaft 5 in the reverse direction from normal which Winds up the cord 13 on the drive 12, and thereby raises the weight 14. I

In order to permit the drum 12, which is fast on shaft 5, to rotate in a reverse direction from. that in which it rotates to drive the clock, without rotating gear 7 backward, this gear is mounted to rotate on shaft 5, but is adapted to be driven by said shaft when the weight is descending. For this purpose there is mounted on gear 7 apivoted pawl? which is adapted to engage under tension of a spring 7 a ratchet 5* fast on shaft 5.

The parts thus far described are all old and well known in the art.

My invention, in the case shown, consists in providing means for automatically Winding cord 13- on its drum when the weight has descended to a preselected point, and this is effected in the following way.

Behind the support 1 is mounted a small electric motor 15 of any suitable construction, the armature shaft 16 of which extends through support 1 and on the outside of said support carries a pinion 17 fast thereon. This pinion is adapted to mesh with a large gear 18 rotatable on a stud shaft 19 fast to an arm 20 pivoted as at 21 to a plate 22 fast to support 1. Gear 18 is fast to a pinion 23 also rotatably mounted on shaft 19, and this pinion is adapted to mesh with a gear 24 fast on power shaft 5 (see Fig. 3).

Normally, or during the downward travel of weight 14, and until said weight has reached a predetermined point in said travel, arm 20 is pulled by a spring 25 upward into the. position shown in Fig. 1, when gear 18 (see Fig. 3) will be disengagedv from the motor pinion, and pinion 23 from the winding gear 24:.

The movement of arm 20 to shift the gears 18 and 23 is effected by an electromagnet 26 fast to support 1 and having a pivoted armature 27 connected to arm 20 through a rod 28 which passes through and makes a loose fit with an opening 29 through the armature. Rod 28 passes at its'other end through a lug 30 on the arm 20. The rod 28 is held against longitudinal movement relative to lug 30 by a nut31 and a pin 32, but armature 27 is adapted to move longitudinally of rod 28, its movement downward being positively limited by a nut 33 on said rod.

Rod 28 passes vertically through a slot 3% (see Fig. in an arm 35 fast to and extending at right angles from a metal switch. blade 36 pivoted on an upright metal sup port 37 mounted upon an insulating base 38 fast to support 1. Arm 35 is held between two washers 39 and 10 slidable on rod 28, and these washers are under pressure toward said arm of two coil springs 41 and 4:2 respectively, on said rod.

The switch blade 36 normally occupies the ton 1-7 is so located that when the cord has unwound to such an extent that the clock should be rewound, it will engage arm 4-5 and carry the switch blade 36 down into ongagement with contact s13. is so located that when it is desired to stop the winding operation, it will engage arm to r and separate switch blade 36 from contact Magnet 26, contact 4.3, switch blade 36, and motor 15 are all in circuit with a suitable source of electric current 19 which may be one or more batteries or service mains as.

desired, one way of electrically connecting these parts being shown in the diagram Fig. 1.

The operation is as follows: hen weight 1st has descended to the point where it is desired to wind the clock, button 47 engages arm 45 and forces switch blade 36 into en gagement with contact 4:3. This completes the circuit from the source of current 49 through the coils of magnet 26 and also through motor 15. This energizes magnet 26, causing it to pull down its armature 27, and, acting through rod 28 to pull down arm 20 which throws gear 18 into mesh with the motor pinion 17 (see Fig. 3) and pinion 23 into mesh with winding gear 24:, on the driving shaft 5. The motor then starts and drives drum 12 in such a direction as to wind cord 18 thereon, thereby raising weight 1 1. 1Vhile the winding is in progress switch contact 36 is held closed by a magnet 26. lVhen this winding has reached a sufficient amount, button 48 will engage arm 45 and open the switch 3Gl3, thereby breaking the circuit of magnet 26 and also that of motor 15. The motor armature will then come to rest and the magnet will release its armature which, under the pull of spring 25 will move upward, said spring at the same time pulling arm 20 upward and thereby shifting gears 18 and 23 from engagement with gears 17 and 24, which uncouples the drum shaft 5 from the motor armature shaft.

The button 4-78 Spring 25 acting through arm 20 holds switch plate 36 normally in the open position.

It will be observed that the connection of the switch blade with the armature 27 and arm 20 is a yielding one which permits said blade to move relative to these parts.

The construction here set forth constitutes a very simple and at the same time a very efficient mechanism for automatically winding clocks, and while I have here shown but one specific form of my invention, it should be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A self-winding clock, comprising a weight driven power shaft, an electric switch and means to automatically close said switch when the clock has run down a given amount and to automatically open said switch when the weight has ascended to a given point in winding, an electric motor, a clutch forming a driving connection between the driving member of said motor and said shaft, an electro-magnet having a movable armature mechanically connected to operate said clutch in one direction, a spring operatively connected to said clutch to operate the same in another direction, and mechanical connection between said switch and said spring for retaining said switch normally open.

2. A self-winding clock, comprising a power shaft, means to normally drive said power shaft to operate the time keeping mechanism of the clock, an electric motor, a clutch adapted to form a driving connection between the driving element of said motor and said power shaft, a movable member adapted to operate said clutch, an electro-magnet having a movable armature, operative connection between said armature and said clutch operating memher for operating said member in one direction, a spring connected to said member for operating the same in another direction, an electric switch having a movable contact mechanically connected to said armature and to said clutch operating member and adapted to be held open by said spring and held closed by said armature, a source of electric current connected in circuit with said motor, switch and the coils of said electro-magnet, and means to automatically close said switch when the normal power drive of said clock has run down a predetermined amount and to open said switch when said drive has been wound up a predetermined amount. 7

3. A self-winding clock, comprising a power shaft, a flexible member operatively connected to said shaft to drive the same, a weight suspended by said flexible member, an electric motor, gearing adapted to form r a driving connection between the driving element of said motor and said power shaft, an electro-magnet having a movable armature, operative connection between said armature and said gearshifting member to movethe latter by the movement of the armature to shift said gearing in one direction, a spring connected to said member for shifting said gearing in another direction, an electric switch having a movable contact mechanically connected to said armature and to said gear shifting member, and means carried by said flexible weight suspending member and adapted to automatically close said switch when said weight has descended to a predetermined point and to open said switch when said weight has ascended to a predetermined point.

4:. A self-winding clock, comprising a power shaft,\a flexible member operatively connected to said shaft to drive the same, a weight suspended by said flexible member, an electric motor, gearing adapted to form a driving connection between the driving element of said motor and said power shaft, a movable member adapted to shift said gearing intoand out of connection with said power shaft and driving element of the moarmature and said gear shifting member to tor, an electro magnet having a movable armature, operatlve connection between said move the latter by the movement of the armature to shift said gearing, a spring connected to said gear shifting member to also shift said gearing, but in a different direc tion from that of said armature, an electric switch having a movable contact yieldably 7 connected to said armature and to said gear shifting member, a source of electric current connected in circuit with said motor, switch and the coils of said electro-magnet, and means carried by said flexible weight suspending member and adapted to automatically close said switch when said weight has descended to a predetermined point and to open said, switch when said weight has ascended to a predetermined point, said switch controlling the power circuit of said motor and the energizing circuit of said magnet.

5. A self-winding clock, comprising a power shaft, a drum carried by said shaft and connected thereto, a flexible member attached to said drum and adapted to be wound thereon, a weight suspended by said flexible member, an electric motor, gearing adapted to form a driving connection between the driving element of said motor and said power shaft, a movable support carrying said gearing, an electro-magnet having a movable armature, a rod forming an operative connection between said armature and said gear support to move the latter by the movement of the armature to shift said gearing, a spring connected to said gear sup 7 motor, switch and the coils of said electromagnet, and means carried by said flexible weight suspending member and adapted to automatically close said switch when said weight has descended to a predetermined point and to open said switch when said weight has ascended to a predetermined point, the said switch controlling the power circuit of said motor and the energizing circuit of said magnet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, MAURICE GASTEL. Witnesses:

R. T. MILLER, Rosn D. RAYONE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent! Washington, D. O." 

